Electrical connector improving both functions of magnetic shielding and ground connection

ABSTRACT

An insulator ( 40 ) retains a plurality of conductive signal contacts ( 10 ) arrayed in a first direction (A 1 ) for contacting with signal contacts of a counterpart connector, and further retains a conductive ground plate ( 20 ). The ground plate is arranged so as to be spaced apart from the signal contacts and has a plurality of ground contacts ( 24, 25 ) for contacting with ground contacts of the counterpart connector. These ground contacts are arrayed in the first direction and joined to each other via a joining portion ( 21 ). A connection piece ( 32, 33 ) extends from a part of the joining portion in the same direction as each of the ground contacts. The connection piece contacts with a conductive shell ( 60 ) formed separately from the ground plate and covering the insulator.

[0001] This application claims priority to prior Japanese patentapplications JP 2003-118486 and JP 2003-120498, the disclosures of whichare incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to an electrical connector(hereinafter also referred to simply as “connector”) having a pluralityof conductive contacts and an insulator retaining or holding thosecontacts.

[0003] Recently, a connector has been required to have a magneticshielding function depending on a use thereof. For example,JP-A-H11-283710 describes a connector having a magnetic shieldingfunction. This connector is used for connecting a connection object suchas a cable and comprises an insulator, conductive signal contactsarrayed on one side of the insulator, a conductive ground plate disposedon the other side of the insulator, and a conductive shell covering theinsulator.

[0004] Two types of ground plates are disclosed in the publication eachfor use in the foregoing connector. One type of the ground plate is incontact with the shell and is connected to the ground of a connectionobject via the shell. However, it is not provided with particular meansfor connection to ground contacts of a counterpart connector. The othertype of the ground plate is provided with ground contacts for connectionto ground contacts of a counterpart connector, but no consideration isgiven about connection to the shell.

[0005] Nevertheless, the ground plate and the shell contribute tomagnetic shielding and ground connection of the connector, but, furtherimprovement thereof has been expected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide anelectrical connector that is excellent in electrical characteristic withenhanced functions of both magnetic shielding and ground connection.

[0007] Other objects of the present invention will become clear as thedescription proceeds.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, there isobtained an electrical connector comprising a plurality of conductivesignal contacts arrayed in a first direction for contacting with signalcontacts of a counterpart connector; a conductive ground platecomprising a plurality of first ground contacts arrayed in the firstdirection for contacting with second ground contacts of the counterpartconnector, and a joining portion joining the first ground contactstogether; an insulator retaining the first signal contacts and theground plate so as to be spaced apart from each other; a conductiveshell formed separately from the ground plate and covering theinsulator; and a connection structure electrically connecting thejoining portion to the shell, the connection structure comprising afirst connection piece extending from a part of the joining portion inthe same direction as each of the first ground contacts in a seconddirection perpendicular to the first direction, and contacting with theshell.

[0009] According to another aspect of the present invention, there isobtained an electrical connector comprising a plurality of signalcontacts; a ground plate; an insulator retaining the signal contacts andthe ground plate; and a shell covering the insulator, wherein the shellhas an engaging portion and the ground plate has a to-be-engagedportion, and wherein the shell is mounted to the insulator in an insertdirection of a counterpart connector into the connector and the groundplate is mounted to the insulator in a direction opposite to the insertdirection so that the engaging portion and the to-be-engaged portionengage with each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector according to afirst preferred embodiment of the present invention, along with acounterpart connector;

[0011]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector shown inFIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view seen from the back side of theconnector shown in FIG. 2;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a perspective view seen from the lower side of theconnector shown in FIG. 2;

[0014]FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing the main part ofthe connector shown in FIG. 2, wherein part of a shell of the connectoris omitted;

[0015]FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the main part of theconnector shown in FIG. 3;

[0016]FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the state wherein thecomponents, excluding the shell, of the connector shown in FIG. 2 areassembled;

[0017]FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a connector according to asecond preferred embodiment of the present invention, along with acounterpart connector;

[0018]FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the connector shown inFIG. 8;

[0019]FIG. 10 is a perspective view seen from the back side of theconnector shown in FIG. 9;

[0020]FIG. 11 is a perspective view seen from the lower side of theconnector shown in FIG. 10;

[0021]FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the state whereincomponents, excluding a shell, of the connector shown in FIG. 8 areassembled;

[0022]FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a connector according to athird preferred embodiment of the present invention, along with acounterpart connector;

[0023]FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the connector shown inFIG. 13;

[0024]FIG. 15 is an enlarged perspective view of the main part of theconnector shown in FIG. 14;

[0025]FIG. 16 is an enlarged partly-sectioned plan view, seen from theupper side, of the main part of the connector shown in FIG. 13;

[0026]FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a connector according to afourth preferred embodiment of the present invention, along with acounterpart connector;

[0027]FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the connector shown inFIG. 17;

[0028]FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view seen from the back side ofthe connector shown in FIG. 17;

[0029]FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view seen from the lower sideof the connector shown in FIG. 17;

[0030]FIG. 21 is an enlarged perspective view of part of the connectorshown in FIG. 18, wherein a shell of the connector is partly omitted;

[0031]FIG. 22 is an enlarged perspective view of part of the connectorshown in FIG. 19;

[0032]FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a section of a lock structure inthe connector shown in FIG. 17; and

[0033]FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a section of the lock structurein the state wherein the connector and the counterpart connector shownin FIG. 17 are locked together.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, description will be made about anoverall structure of a connector according to a first preferredembodiment of the present invention.

[0035] The shown connector 1 is used so as to be mounted on the back ofan LCD panel or the like and fitted together with a counterpartconnector connected to wiring from a device body, thereby to transmitelectrical signals from the device body to the LCD panel.

[0036] The connector 1 comprises a plurality of conductive signalcontacts (hereinafter also referred to simply as “contacts”) 10 arrayedin a constant pitch in a first direction A1, a conductive ground plate20, an insulator 40 retaining or holding the contacts 10 and the groundplate 20, and a conductive shell 60 covering the insulator 40. Thecontacts 10 are arranged at regular intervals in a longitudinaldirection of the connector 1, i.e. in the first direction A1.

[0037] Each of the contacts 10 is formed by pressing a metal plate andthen bending it, and comprises a press-fit portion 11, a spring portion12 extending from the press-fit portion 11 in a second direction A2perpendicular to the first direction A1, a contacting portion 13 that issubjected to bending so as to be curved at a free end of the springportion 12, and a terminal portion 14 for soldering extending from thepress-fit portion 11 in an opposite direction. Herein, the springportion 12 and the contacting portion 13 are collectively called asignal contact contacting portion.

[0038] The ground plate 20 is disposed so as to be spaced apart from thecontacts 10 in a third direction A3 perpendicular to the first andsecond directions A1 and A2. The ground plate 20 comprises a firstjoining portion (vertical portion) 21 in the form of a plate elongatedin the first direction A1, a second joining portion (horizontal portion)22 that is bent from the first joining portion 21 substantially at aright angle thereto, a plurality of ground press-fit portions 23 arrayedin a constant pitch in the first direction A1 and each extending fromthe second joining portion 22 in the second direction A2, a plurality ofground spring portions 24 each further extending from the correspondingground press-fit portion 23, and a plurality of ground contactingportions 25 each subjected to bending so as to be curved toward thecontact 10 in a plane perpendicular to the first direction A1 at a freeend of the corresponding ground spring portion 24. Herein, the groundspring portion 24 and the ground contacting portion 25 are collectivelycalled a ground contact. The signal contacts 10 and the ground contactsare arranged so as to confront each other in the third direction A3.

[0039] The ground plate 20 further comprises ground terminal portions 26formed near both ends thereof in the first direction Al and eachextending from the first joining portion 21 in a direction opposite tothat of the ground spring portion 24, and clip portions 27 formed atboth ends, in the first direction A1, of the ground plate 20. Each clipportion 27 has an upper spring portion 28 and a lower spring portion 30confronting each other in the third direction A3. The upper springportion 28 and the lower spring portion 30 extend in the same directionas each ground spring portion 24.

[0040] Referring also to FIGS. 5 and 6, the connector 1 will bedescribed in detail.

[0041] The upper spring portion 28 of each clip portion 27 is formedwith a hole portion 29, while the lower spring portion 30 thereof isformed with a cutout 31. Between each of the ground terminal portions 26and the adjacent clip portion 27, an additional ground spring portion 32extends in the same direction as each ground spring portion 24. At afree end of the additional ground spring portion 32, an additionalground contacting portion 33 is formed in a shape that is curved in adirection opposite to that of the ground contact 25. Herein, theadditional ground spring portion 32 and the additional ground contactingportion 33 are collectively called a first connection piece.

[0042] The insulator 40 is made of a non-conductive material such asresin. A fitting hole 43 is formed between an upper surface portion 41and a lower surface portion 42 of the insulator 40. Contact receivinggrooves 44 are formed on an inner surface of the upper surface portion41, i.e. on an upper wall surface of the fitting hole 43, while groundreceiving grooves 46 are formed on an inner surface of the lower surfaceportion 42, i.e. on a lower wall surface of the fitting hole 43. As bestshown in FIGS. 3 and 6, a contact receiving hole 45 is formed at alongitudinally rear end of each contact receiving groove 44. As bestshown in FIGS. 3 and 6, a ground receiving hole 47 is formed at alongitudinally rear end of each ground receiving groove 46.

[0043] Recessed portions 48 are formed at both ends of the insulator 40in the first direction A1. A groove 49 is formed on an upper wallsurface of the recessed portion 48, a groove 50 is formed on a lowerwall surface thereof, and a shell hole 51 is formed in a back wallthereof. A hole 52 is formed in the back wall at a longitudinally rearend of the groove 49, and a hole 53 is formed in the back wall at alongitudinally rear end of the groove 50.

[0044] Shell retaining grooves 54 are formed on the upper surfaceportion 41 of the insulator 40, and shell retaining grooves 56 areformed on the lower surface portion 42 thereof. Shell engaging holes 55and 57 are formed at longitudinally rear ends of the shell retaininggrooves 54 and 56, respectively. Further, the lower surface portion 42is formed with a pair of slits 58 at both end portions thereof in thefirst direction Al as shown in FIG. 4.

[0045] The shell 60 covers the insulator 40. Therefore, the contacts 10and the ground plate 20 are also covered with the shell 60. The shell 60is a pressed component having a substantially

-shape in a section perpendicular to the first direction A1, and isformed with a fitting hole 61 in the front thereof and with a guidesurface 62 on a lower side of the fitting hole 61.

[0046] As best seen from FIGS. 5 and 6, on both outer sides of thefitting hole 61 are formed folded portions 63 each of which is bent soas to get into a space between mutually parallel upper and lower plates72 and 74 of the shell 60. The folded portion 63 extends in the seconddirection A2 and is formed near its center in an extending directionthereof with convex portions 64 and 65 projected in the third directionsA3. Edge portions 66 and 67 are formed at a free end of the foldedportion 63. Concave portions 68 and 69 are formed between the convexportions 64 and 65 and the edge portions 66 and 67. Further, the foldedportion 63 is formed with a lock hole 70 and a rib 71.

[0047] The upper plate 72 of the shell 60 is formed with shell press-fitportions 73, and the lower plate 74 thereof is formed with shellpress-fit portions 75. Both longitudinal ends of the lower plate 74 areextended to have shell terminal portions 76 for soldering, respectively.

[0048] Now, referring to FIGS. 1 to 7, assembling of the connector 1will be described.

[0049] The contacts 10 are press-fitted into the contact holes 45,respectively, thereby to be fixed in the state of being arrayed in thefirst direction A1. The ground plate 20 is mounted into the insulator 40from the back side in the second direction A2. As a result, the groundpress-fit portions 23 of the ground plate 20 are press-fitted into theground receiving holes 47 of the insulator 40 so as to be fixed. In thisevent, the upper spring portions 28 of the clip portions 27 are fittedinto the holes 52 of the insulator 40, respectively, the lower springportions 30 are fitted into the holes 53 of the insulator 40,respectively, and the additional ground spring portions 32 are fittedinto the slits 58, respectively. In this event, as shown in FIG. 7, theadditional ground contacting portion 33 formed at the free end of eachadditional ground spring portion 32 is projected over the lower surfaceportion 42 of the insulator 40.

[0050] The shell 60 is mounted onto the insulator 40 from the front sidein the second direction A2. As a result, the press-fit portions 73 and75 of the shell 60 pass through the shell retaining grooves 54 and 56 ofthe insulator 40 so as to be press-fitted into the shell holes 55 and 57and thus fixed. Upon mounting the shell 60 onto the insulator 40, theconvex portions 64 enter the grooves 49, respectively, and the convexportions 65 enter the grooves 50, respectively. Therefore, each foldedportion 63 is fixed in position in the first direction A1, while thefree end thereof passes through the shell hole 51. When the foldedportion 63 passes through the shell hole 51, the edge portion 66 passesthrough the upper spring portion 28 of the clip portion 27 of the groundplate 20 and then enters the hole portion 29 of the clip portion 27 sothat the upper spring portion 28 comes in contact with the convexportion 68. On the other hand, the edge portion 67 passes through thelower spring portion 30 and then enters the cutout 31 so that the lowerspring portion 30 comes in contact with the concave portion 69.

[0051] The additional ground contacting portions 33 of the ground plate20 are projected from the lower surface portion 42 of the insulator 40,and thus are pressed against an inner surface of the lower plate 74 ofthe shell 60 due to springiness of the additional ground spring portions32. Therefore, the ground plate 20 and the shell 60 are electricallyconnected to each other.

[0052] Referring particularly to FIG. 1, a counterpart connector 100serving as a connection counterpart of the connector 1 comprisescounterpart contacts 110, a counterpart insulator 120, pins 130, levers140, and a ground shell (not shown), and electrical wires are connectedto the counterpart contacts 110.

[0053] The counterpart insulator 120 comprises a plate-like counterpartfitting portion 121, a body portion 122, and guide post portions 123 and124. The conductive ground shell (not shown) is mounted onto the backside of the counterpart fitting portion 121. When the connector 1 andthe counterpart connector 100 are fitted together, the counterpartfitting portion 121 is sandwiched between the contacts 10 and the groundplate 20 confronting the counterpart fitting portion 121 and arranged inthe first direction A1.

[0054] The connector 1 is provided with a fitting hole 2 for receivingtherein the counterpart fitting portion 121 of the counterpart connector100, and with post holes 3 and 4 for receiving therein the guide postportions 123 and 124 of the counterpart connector 100, respectively. Atboth ends of the body portion 122 of the counterpart insulator 120, thelevers 140 are mounted so as to be pivotable about the pins 130,respectively.

[0055] Each lever 140 is formed by pressing a metal plate. The lever 140has both side portions serving as an operating portion 141 and ismounted so as to sandwich the body portion 122 of the counterpartinsulator 120 between upper and lower surface portions 142 and 143 ofthe lever 140.

[0056] A plate spring portion 144 extends from the operating portion 141and generates a repulsive force against the body portion 122 of thecounterpart insulator 120. Since this repulsive force causes theoperating portion 141 of the lever 140 to receive a force in a directionof an arrow 150 in FIG. 1, the operating portion 141 of the lever 140 isconstantly biased away from the counterpart insulator 120.

[0057] Upon fitting together the connector 1 and the counterpartconnector 100, the counterpart fitting portion 121 is inserted into thefitting hole 2. Then, the counterpart contacts 110 are brought intocontact with the contacts 10, and the guide post portions 123 and 124are inserted into the post holes 3 and 4, respectively. When thecounterpart connector 100 is further inserted, arrowhead portions (notshown) of the levers 140 get into the lock holes 70 of the shell 60,respectively, thereby to achieve a locked state.

[0058] For releasing the locked state, pushing the operating portions141 of the levers 140 causes rotation of the levers 140 against therepulsive forces of the plate spring portions 144 so that the projectedarrowhead portions rotate in directions of arrows 151 in FIG. 1 so as tobe retracted from the lock holes 70, respectively, thereby to releasethe locked state with the shell 60. By pulling the counterpart connector100 while pushing the operating portions 141, it can be removed.

[0059] The foregoing contacts 10 are used for the purpose of contactingwith the counterpart contacts 110 of the counterpart connector 100 so asto transmit electrical signals. The ground plate 20 is used for thepurpose of contacting with the ground shell of the counterpart connector100 so as to transmit a ground signal of the device body. The shell 60is used for the purpose of protecting the signal contacts from noiseinside and outside the device for which the connector 1 is used. Theterminal portions 14 of the contacts 10, the ground terminal portions 26of the ground plate 20, and the shell terminal portions 76 of the shell60 are, for example, fixed to a board such as an LCD panel by soldering.

[0060] Upon fitting together the connector 1 and the counterpartconnector 100, the ground plate 20 and the ground shell are connected toeach other, in addition to the connection between the contacts 10 andthe counterpart contacts 110. Therefore, the electrical signals from theelectrical wires 160 are transmitted to the board such as the LCD panelvia the counterpart contacts 110 and the contacts 10, while the groundsignal is transmitted to the board such as the LCD panel via the groundshell and the ground plate 20.

[0061] Referring to FIGS. 8 to 12, a connector according to a secondpreferred embodiment of the present invention will be described. Aconnector 1′ and a counterpart connector 100′ shown in FIGS. 8 to 12 canemploy structures similar to those of the connector 1 and thecounterpart connector 100 shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, respectively. In FIGS.8 to 12, those portions of the connector 1′ and the counterpartconnector 100′ having substantially the same functions (shapes differsomewhat) as those of the connector 1 and the counterpart connector 100shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 are assigned the same reference symbols to therebyomit description thereof.

[0062] The connector 1′ is configured such that a shell 60 is mountedonto an insulator 40 from the back side in the second direction A2.Specifically, relative to the insulator 40, a ground plate 20 and theshell 60 are mounted from the same side in the second direction A2.Further, in the connector 1′, the ground plate 20 does not require thefirst joining portion 21 that is required in the ground plate 20 of theconnector 1.

[0063] Referring to FIGS. 13 to 16, a connector according to a thirdpreferred embodiment of the present invention will be described. Aconnector 1″ and a counterpart connector 100″ shown in FIGS. 13 to 16can employ structures similar to those of the connector 1 and thecounterpart connector 100 shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, respectively. In FIGS.13 to 16, those portions of the connector 1″ and the counterpartconnector 100″ having substantially the same functions (shapes differsomewhat) as those of the connector 1 and the counterpart connector 100shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 are assigned the same reference symbols to therebyomit description thereof.

[0064] In the connector 1″, contacts 10 and a ground plate 20 aremounted into an insulator 40 in a direction opposite to an insertdirection of the counterpart connector 100″, then a shell 60 is mountedonto the insulator 40 in the same direction as the insert direction ofthe counterpart connector 100″. These mounting directions are the sameas those in the connector 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 7.

[0065] Upon the mounting, insert portions 34 of the ground plate 20formed at both ends thereof, serving as first connection pieces, areinserted into shell holes 51 of the insulator 40 from the back side inthe second direction A2, while folded portions 63 of the shell 60,serving as second connection pieces, are inserted into the shell holes51 from the front side in the second direction A2.

[0066] Each insert portion 34 of the ground plate 20 is formed with adowel 35. The dowels 35 contact with the folded portions 63,respectively, so that the ground plate 20 and the shell 60 areelectrically connected to each other. It is preferable that at least oneof the insert portion 34 and the folded portion 63 is given springinessso as to press the dowel 35 against the folded portion 63 using thisspringiness. However, it is possible to ensure a predetermined contactby the use of the dowel 35 without providing the springiness. The dowelmay be provided on at least one of the insert portion 34 and the foldedportion 63.

[0067] Referring to FIGS. 17 to 24, a connector according to a fourthpreferred embodiment of the present invention will be described. InFIGS. 17 to 24, portions like those in FIGS. 1 to 7 may be assigned thesame reference symbols to thereby omit description thereof.

[0068] Soldering terminals 14 of signal contacts 10, a pair of solderingterminals 26 of a ground plate 20, and a pair of soldering terminals 76of a shell 60, of a connector 1, are soldered to a board (not shown)such as an LCD panel. After connection to electrical wires 160, contacts110 are fixed to an insulator 120. Upon fitting together the connector 1and a counterpart connector 100, a connecting portion 121 is insertedinto a fitting hole 2, and guide post portions 123 and 124 are insertedinto post holes 3 and 4, respectively. In this event, the contacts 10 ofthe connector 1 and the contacts 110 of the counterpart connector 100are connected together, respectively, and the ground plate 20 of theconnector 1 and a ground shell of the counterpart connector 100 areconnected together. Therefore, electrical signals from the electricalwires 160 are transmitted to the board such as the LCD panel via therespective contacts 110 and 10, while a ground signal is transmitted tothe board such as the LCD panel via the ground shell and the groundplate 20.

[0069] Each contact 10 of the connector 1 is formed by pressing a metalplate. A press-fit portion 11 of each contact 10 is press-fitted intothe insulator 40. A spring portion 12 and a contacting portion 13 at itsfree end are formed on one side of the press-fit portion 11, while thesoldering terminal 14 is formed on the other side thereof.

[0070] The ground plate 20 is formed into an L-shape by a verticalportion 21 and a horizontal portion 22 over the whole length of theconnector 1 in the first direction A1. A lot of press-fit portions 23and spring portions 24 extend from the horizontal portion 22. Acontacting portion 25 is formed at a free end of each spring portion 24so as to be curved toward the contact 10. Each of ground contacts 32comprises the press-fit portion 23, the spring portion 24, and thecontacting portion 25. The contacting portions 25 are connected to theground shell of the counterpart connector 100. The soldering terminals26 are formed near both ends, in the first direction A1, of the verticalportion 21 and each of them extends from the vertical portion 21 in adirection opposite to that of the spring portion 24.

[0071] Clip portions 27 are formed at both ends, in the first directionA1, of the ground plate 20. As shown in FIG. 21, each clip portion 27has an upper spring portion 28 and a lower spring portion 30 that extendin the same direction as each spring portion 24. The upper springportion 28 is provided with a hole portion 29, while the lower springportion 30 is provided with a cutout 31.

[0072] The insulator 40 is made of a non-conductive material such asresin. As shown in FIGS. 18, 20, 21, 23, and 24, a fitting hole 43 isformed between an upper surface portion 41 and a lower surface portion42 of the insulator 40. The upper surface portion 41 is formed with alot of contact grooves 44. The lower surface portion 42 is formed with alot of ground plate grooves 46.

[0073] A contact receiving hole 45 is formed on the longitudinally rearside of each contact groove 44, while a ground receiving hole 47 isformed on the longitudinally rear side of each ground plate groove 46.

[0074] Recessed portions 48 are provided at both ends of the insulator40 in the first direction A1. As shown in FIG. 20, a groove 49 is formedon an upper wall surface, in the third direction A3, of each recessedportion 48. As shown in FIGS. 18, 19, 21, and 22, a groove 50 is formedon a lower wall surface of each recessed portion 48. As shown in FIGS.18 and 21, a shell hole 51 is formed in a back wall of each recessedportion 48. As shown in FIGS. 19 and 22, a hole 52 is formed in the backwall at a longitudinally rear end of each groove 49, and a hole 53 isformed in the back wall at a longitudinally rear end of each groove 50.

[0075] As shown in FIGS. 18 to 22, some shell grooves 54 are formed onthe upper surface portion 41 of the insulator 40, and some shell grooves56 are formed on the lower surface portion 42 thereof. As shown in FIGS.19 and 22, shell holes 55 and 57 are formed at longitudinally rear endsof the shell grooves 54 and 56, respectively.

[0076] As shown in FIG. 18, the shell 60 is formed by pressing a metalplate into a substantially

-shape in a section, and provided with a fitting hole 61 in the frontthereof and with a guide surface 62 on a lower side of the fitting hole61.

[0077] As shown in FIGS. 21 and 23, folded portions 63 are formed bybending on both right and left outer sides of the fitting hole 61. Eachfolded portion 63 is provided with convex portions 64 and 65 near itscenter in the second direction A2, edges 66 and 67 at a free endthereof, and concave portions 68 and 69 between the convex portions 64and 65 and the edges 66 and 67. Further, a lock hole 70 and a rib 71 areprovided on a more root side of each folded portion 63 with respect tothe convex portions 64 and 65.

[0078] As shown in FIGS. 19 and 22, an upper surface portion 72 of theshell is provided with some press-fit portions 73, and a lower surfaceportion 74 thereof is provided with some press-fit portions 75. Bothends, in the first direction A1, of the lower surface portion 74 areextended to serve as the soldering terminals 76, respectively.

[0079] Assembling of the connector 1 will be carried out in thefollowing manner.

[0080] The contacts 10 are press-fitted into the contact holes 45,respectively, from the back side of the insulator 40 shown in FIGS. 19and 22, thereby to be fixed in the state of being arrayed in one line ina constant pitch.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 19, the ground plate 20 is mounted into theinsulator 40 from its back side in the second direction A2 so that thepress-fit portions 23 are press-fitted into the ground receiving holes47, respectively, so as to be fixed. In this event, as shown in FIGS. 21to 23, the upper spring portions 28 of the clip portions 27 are fittedinto the holes 52 of the insulator 40, respectively, and the lowerspring portions 30 are fitted into the holes 53, respectively.

[0082] As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the shell 60 is mounted onto theinsulator 40 from its front side in the second direction A2 so that thepress-fit portions 73 and 75 of the shell 60 pass through the shellgrooves 54 and 56 of the insulator 40 so as to be press-fitted into theshell holes 55 and 57 and thus fixed.

[0083] As shown in FIGS. 19 to 22, upon mounting the shell 60 onto theinsulator 40, the convex portions 64 enter the grooves 49, respectively,and the convex portions 65 enter the grooves 50, respectively.Therefore, each folded portion 63 is fixed in position in the firstdirection A1, while the free end thereof passes through the shell hole51.

[0084] When the folded portion 63 passes through the shell hole 51, theedge 66 passes through the upper spring portion 28 of the clip portion27 of the ground plate 20 and then, as shown in FIG. 23, enters the holeportion 29 of the clip portion 27 so that the upper spring portion 28comes in contact with the convex portion 68. On the other hand, the edge67 passes through the lower spring portion 30 and then enters the cutout31 so that the lower spring portion 30 comes in contact with the concaveportion 69.

[0085] As a result, the ground plate 20 is electrically connected to theshell 60 via the clip portions 27 and the folded portions 63. In thisevent, the upper spring portion 28 and the lower spring portion 30 ofthe clip portion 27 serve as a first connection piece, while the foldedportion 63 serves as a second connection piece.

[0086] Levers 140 are attached to the insulator 120 after the electricalwirings 160 and the contacts 110 are press-connected together,respectively.

[0087] The ground shell (not shown) is mounted onto the back side of theconnecting portion 121 of the insulator 120. At both right and left endsof a body portion 122 of the insulator 120, the levers 140 are mountedso as to be pivotable about the pins 130, respectively. Each lever 140is formed by pressing a metal plate. The lever 140 has side portionsserving as an operating portion 141 to be operated by fingers, and isattached to the body portion 122 so as to sandwich the body portion 122between upper and lower surface portions 142 and 143 of the lever 140. Aplate spring 144 is received in each lever 140 and urges the lever 140in a direction of an arrow 150 by contacting with the body portion 122.

[0088] As shown in FIG. 24, a forward end side 145 of each lever 140 isinserted into the inside of the guide post portion 123,124 when mountedonto the insulator 120, and an inclined portion 146 and a hook portion147 of the forward end side 145 are projected from the inside of theguide post portion 123, 124.

[0089] Upon fitting together the connector 1 and the counterpartconnector 100, the connecting portion 121 is inserted into the fittinghole 2 so that the contacts 110 contact with the contacts 10,respectively, and the guide post portions 123 and 124 are inserted intothe post holes 3 and 4, respectively. In this event, when the inclinedportion 146 of each lever 140 passes over the rib 71 of the shell 60,the inclined portion 146 and the hook portion 147 of the forward endside 145 are retracted into the inside of the guide post portion 123,124against the plate spring 144.

[0090] When the counterpart connector 100 is further inserted into theconnector 1, the hook portion 147 of each lever 140 gets into the lockhole 70 of the shell 60 as shown in FIG. 24 so that the counterpartconnector 100 is locked with the connector 1.

[0091] For removing the counterpart connector 100 from the connector 1,an operation is carried out in the following manner. When the operatingportions 141 of the levers 140 are pushed by fingers, the levers 140rotate in directions of arrows 151 in FIG. 17, respectively, againstrepulsive forces of the plate springs 144 so that the hook portions 147are retracted from the lock holes 70, respectively. Therefore, thelocked state of the counterpart connector 100 and the connector 1 isreleased. By pulling the counterpart connector 100 from the connector 1while pushing the operating portions 141 by fingers, the counterpartconnector 100 is removed from the connector 1.

[0092] Even if pulling the counterpart connector 100 from the connector1 without pushing the operating portions 141 of the levers 140, sincethe hook portions 147 of the levers 140 engage with the lock holes 70 ofthe shell 60, removal of the counterpart connector 100 from theconnector 1 is impossible.

[0093] In the connector 1, the edges 66 and 67 of the shell 60 engagewith the hole portions 29 and the cutouts 31 of the ground plate 20,respectively. Therefore, when an excessive pulling force is applied tothe counterpart connector 100, the pulling force is transmitted not onlyto the shell 60 but also to the ground plate 20 so that the ground plate20 is pulled by the pulling force.

[0094] The ground plate 20 is mounted into the insulator 40 from itsback side that is opposite to the side from which the shell 60 ismounted onto the insulator 40. Accordingly, when the ground plate 20 ispulled by the pulling force, it collides against the insulator 40. Theground plate 20 and the contacts 10 are mounted into the insulator 40from its back side in the second direction A2, and the solderingterminals 26 of the ground plate 20 and the soldering terminals 14 ofthe contacts 10 are soldered to the board. Therefore, the pulling forceapplied to the counterpart connector 100 is received by the wholeconnector 1 including press-fit retaining forces of the shell 60, therespective contacts 10, and the ground plate 20 relative to theinsulator 40, and peel strengths of the soldering terminals 76, 14, and26 of the shell 60, the respective contacts 10, and the ground plate 20,and hence, breakage of the hook portions 147 of the levers 140 and thelock holes 70 of the shell 60 becomes more unlikely.

[0095] Since the concave portions 68 and 69 of the shell 60 are broughtinto contact with the upper spring portions 28 and the lower springportions 30 of the ground plate 20, respectively, the shell 60 and theground plate 20 are electrically connected to each other. The groundsignal flowing in the ground plate 20 flows to the board via thesoldering terminals 26, while the ground signal also flows to thesoldering terminals 76 of the shell 60 via the contacting portionsbetween the ground plate 20 and the shell 60, and therefore, thetransmission paths of the ground signal are increased to thereby improvethe electrical performance.

[0096] The description has been given about the case wherein thepress-fit portions 73 and 75 are provided for fixing the shell 60relative to the insulator 40. However, inasmuch as the engaging portionsof the shell 60 and the to-be-engaged portions of the ground plate 20engage with each other to thereby cause the shell 60 to be fixed so asto cover the insulator 40, the press-fit portions 73 and 75 of the shell60 ad the shell holes 55 and 57 of the insulator 40 may be omitted.

[0097] While the present invention has thus far been described inconnection with a few embodiments thereof, it will readily be possiblefor those skilled in the art to put this invention into practice invarious other manners. For example, it is readily understood that thoseembodiments can be suitably combined and that such combinations are alsoincluded within the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electrical connector comprising: a pluralityof conductive signal contacts arrayed in a first direction forcontacting with signal contacts of a counterpart connector; a conductiveground plate comprising a plurality of first ground contacts arrayed insaid first direction for contacting with second ground contacts of thecounterpart connector, and a joining portion joining said first groundcontacts together; an insulator retaining said first signal contacts andsaid ground plate so as to be spaced apart from each other; a conductiveshell formed separately from said ground plate and covering saidinsulator; and a connection structure electrically connecting saidjoining portion to said shell, said connection structure comprising afirst connection piece extending from a part of said joining portion inthe same direction as each of said first ground contacts in a seconddirection perpendicular to said first direction, and contacting withsaid shell.
 2. An electrical connector according to claim 1, whereineach of said first ground contacts is substantially parallel to saidfirst connection piece.
 3. An electrical connector according to claim 1,wherein said ground plate comprises a ground terminal extending fromsaid joining portion in a direction opposite to that of said firstconnection piece in said second direction.
 4. An electrical connectoraccording to claim 1, wherein said first connection piece hasspringiness and is pressed against said shell by said springiness.
 5. Anelectrical connector according to claim 4, wherein said first connectionpiece is pressed against said shell in a third direction perpendicularto said first and second directions.
 6. An electrical connectoraccording to claim 4, wherein said first connection piece is pressedagainst said shell in said first direction.
 7. An electrical connectoraccording to claim 1, wherein said connection structure comprises asecond connection piece extending from said shell in said seconddirection and contacting with said first connection piece.
 8. Anelectrical connector according to claim 7, wherein at least one of saidfirst and second connection pieces has a dowel that is pressed againstthe other of said first and second connection pieces.
 9. An electricalconnector according to claim 7, wherein said first and second connectionpieces engage with each other in said second direction.
 10. Anelectrical connector according to claim 9, wherein said ground plate andsaid shell are fitted to said insulator from mutually opposite sides insaid second direction.
 11. An electrical connector according to claim 9,wherein said ground plate and said shell are fitted to said insulatorfrom the same side in said second direction.
 12. An electrical connectorcomprising: a plurality of signal contacts; a ground plate; an insulatorretaining said signal contacts and said ground plate; and a shellcovering said insulator, wherein said shell has an engaging portion andsaid ground plate has a to-be-engaged portion, and wherein said shell ismounted to said insulator in an insert direction of a counterpartconnector into said connector and said ground plate is mounted to saidinsulator in a direction opposite to said insert direction so that saidengaging portion and said to-be-engaged portion engage with each other.13. An electrical connector according to claim 12, wherein said groundplate has a spring portion and said to-be-engaged portion is formed atsaid spring portion so that said shell and said ground plate areconnected to each other through engagement between said engaging portionand said to-be-engaged portion.
 14. An electrical connector according toclaim 12, wherein said ground plate comprises a plurality of groundcontacts, and said ground contacts are connected to a ground shell ofsaid counterpart connector.
 15. An electrical connector according toclaim 12, wherein said engaging portion has a lock portion that locksconnection to said counterpart connector.